Question

Why is cleaning from top to bottom a good idea? It ensures that you get rid of dirt and dust rather than move it onto other objects Dust and dirt can fall down onto lower objects when you clean Both A and B None of the above

Answer 1

Explanation:

According to Caple (2000) the impulse to dean an object arises from an unconscious idea that

deanliness is the correct or appropriate state for the human environment. Of course this can be a hazard in the conservation of ancient cultural objects because of the potential unconscious impulse to return an object to an assumed pristine state. When we talk about clearing we most often think in terms of the surface appearance of an object but when dealing with ancient or historic objects the question must arise - what is the original surface and can we reveal R? In some cases the original surface may not longer be there to reveal. On a painted object the paint has fallen away then the original surface is irretrievably lost. Alternatively, the chemistry and structure of the original surface may have been sufficiently altered by degradation processes (eg. corrosion of metals or glass) that cleaning will never reveal the appearance the object may have had in the past. Overdeaning in search of an assumed original surface can seriously damage a museum object and may also remove valuable historical, scientific or technical evidence in the process. It is essential that the nature of the "dirt and the way the object's surface and interior have been altered with the passage of time understood before any attempt is made to "dean" an object.